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Tuesday, February 07, 2017

Snowy Days

Those of you who live in more northerly climes will surely laugh at our paltry snowfall that wreaks such havoc with normal life here on the coast. I grew up in the north and hearing of Victoria's inability to cope with snow was cause for some derision.

I understand better, now. We have minimal snow removal equipment for it's not needed every year. Temperatures that hover just around freezing make for very slippery streets. And I'll confess that many people here lack the skills for driving in snowy conditions. So things slow down, or shut down.

All that to say that when I got a text early yesterday morning saying that school was cancelled because of snow, Tim thought I'd gone nuts. There's something about a snow day that is like a gift - no plans made, and no obligations.

He, of course, had to go to work. I spent a leisurely early morning drinking tea, reading blogs, and relaxing. Then I thought I should get some milk, so I pulled on my snow gear (the temperature was just under the freezing mark), and set out for a walk. It was so pleasant that I took the very long way around the Bog and arrived home with a bag of groceries a couple of hours later. As you can see from the photos, (taken with my phone), it was a good day for ducks. I've never seen so many of them all together.

The view from my windows is magical. I cradle a cup of hot tea as I walk from view to view, admiring the transformation that snow brings.

Blueberry bushes, buds swelling, cradling delicate snowflakes.

And the view from inside - pretty spring blooms while the snow falls. I took all of these photos yesterday morning; it snowed all day so there is much more on the ground. Today is another snow day off from school - the roads are treacherous although the snowfall has ceased. And by Thursday, the high is forecast to be 9C. Such weather!

I'm sure you have more snow then we do here. Southern Alberta has been hit hard again this winter but here in the North, I've shoveled just once. My brother in Coquitlam has shoveled more than I have in the last two winters combined! Hope your snow day goes well and this mess soon melts away. X Chy

We have the same problem here - snow always seems to take us unaware, but no snow in our corner of the world so far this winter. It seemed to be positively spring like today, but it could still be back to cold again tomorrow.

Beautiful photos Lorrie. I love the one of all the ducks! Yes, you've sure had some snow on the Island this winter. So unusual. At least you know it will be gone in a few days and no doubt daffodils will be trying to bloom. We have another ice storm event coming tomorrow so it won't be pleasant. I'm glad you enjoyed your 'snow days'.

I loved seeing all your beautiful snowy photos here Lorrie. There is something special about a snow day and the cancelling of usual work/school times.....I remember one or two such days as a child and how I loved them! We rarely get much snow here in my bit of the UK and haven't had any this winter, so I do enjoy seeing bloggers views of their snowy wonderlands...thank you for sharing yours.Helen xox

Oh snow days :). Teachers do little dances I feel to bring on a snow day. Certainly here in Jersey. Just like you even a few flakes on our small island and the whole place grinds to a halt. Teachers are poised by their radios for Seven o'clock news to tell us if schools are closed or not. If they are I swear you can hear a whoop of joy from teachers and children alike. Hope you enjoy your special days. No doubt we will have to wait a few years for the next ones. B x

Your snow photos are delightful and you well describe what a snow "event" is like down here in the southeast too. Here it's all about the safety of the school buses on unplowed winding neighborhood roads. We just remarked today with our temperature at 74 F, we just may be done with the winter that we never really had! But we all love, love a snow day.

It is so unusual to see you posting snowy photos Lorrie, along with tulips and ducks. And a snow day! We found the same thing when driving to Florida in 2014 where snow reached down into Kentucky and south and they just weren't prepared for the driving conditions. KY in particular only had so much sand allotted for snowy, icy roads and when it was gone - that was it and so everything shut down.Glad you enjoyed your snow day in a leisurely fashion.

What great pictures. I know how bad it is when it snows in the south. I think the worst part is that people don't know how to drive in it and most often don't have all wheel drive or 4 wheel drive like we have in the south. Sounds like you had a nice walk and really took advantage of a 'bad day'. xo Diana

How nice to have a snow day. My daughter taught school in Alabama for two years, and actually had a couple snow days! You're right; even a little bit of snow is challenging for those who don't have the salt or equipment to deal with it. She had to take her house mates to the mall because she was the only one who knew how to drive in it!Beautiful pictures!

A bit like here - little snow removing equipment at the ready because we don't get a lot! But, when it comes - and we did get 25 inches in one day a few years back - the city comes to a complete standstill and the quietness descends like a fluffy white blanket, lovely!The ducks you met along the way are fabulous - I think they were having a good time too.

Snow days are always a blessing when you can just stay home and enjoy them! How lovely that your walk allowed you to capture such delicate beauty around you. Loved the pictures of the ducks too! We are to get some of the same storm Wed/Thurs as well. A wild wet winter for sure! Hope the rest of your day off was lovely :)

My girls used to love snow days, it was always such a special day for us all. Sadly we are much the same, the Country comes to a standstill when we have snow, we have snow so rarely that we are unable to cope when it does. Such beautiful photographs.

Such beautiful pictures! I realized once again what a delightful thing is the snow. The whole nature becomes quite different. This is a wonderful, if it does not last very long. But five months is a LOT of snow. I would like the winters are shorter !! There has been four days hard frosts, but the weather forecast promised that during the weekend the weather warms up above the freezing point.

Were those ducks following you and your groceries home? Some of them look a little shady. Did you start walking faster? Yes, cancelled school days are like an umexpectd gift...two or three of them in a row are like a mini-vacation. If the children here get to school tomorrow, it will only be for the second time this week. Next week isn't looking much better. You do take the most lovely photos...

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